Bradford 14-14 St Helens
A last minute Jamie Foster penalty ensured the points were shared at Odsal this afternoon in a game played in truly awful conditions.
Saints opened the scoring on 7 minutes after Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook crashed over from short range with Jamie Foster adding the extras.
Saints continued to push hard in the opening stages and Kyle Eastmond was denied by the video referee after he slid over the line but lost the ball as he grounded it.
Bradford quickly hit back after Marc Herbert put a huge bomb up and Brett Kearney jumped higher than Paul Wellens to take the ball and dive over the line, Ah Van converting.
Foster gave Saints the lead on 18 minutes after he slotted over a penalty.
The video ref was then called upon again, this time denying Jonny Lomax by adjudging an obstruction in the build up to him putting it down over the try line.
A Ben Jefferies high bomb kick on 27 minutes caused the Saints defence problems and James Donaldson dived on the loose ball. Two tackles later, Heath L’Estrange put a short pass in for Andy Lynch who crashed over for the try. Ah Van again adding the extras.
The New Zealander then had a chance to extend the Bulls lead with a penalty in front of the sticks after Wilkin committed a high tackle on Tom Burgess, but the attempt drifted wide, much to the surprise of everyone.
Saints had the final say of the half with Makinson scoring an unconverted try in the corner to put the score at 12-12 going into the break.
The second half was a hard slog for both sides. Despite many mistakes, both sides managed to display a high level of skill and intensity as they searched for the opening.
When the Bulls received a penalty on 60 minutes, Ah Van opted for goal in front of the sticks and this time made no mistake and converted the opportunity.
It looked like the Bulls were going to take all the points until Lynch blocked Gaskell after he’d kicked through, giving referee James Child no option but to award a penalty.
Youngster Foster held is nerve to slot the penalty between the uprights to put the final score at 14-14.